A groundbreaking study has revealed that a staggering 50% of cancer fatalities are attributable to just six lifestyle factors. The American Cancer Society’s latest findings indicate that a significant 40% of cancer incidences and 50% of cancer-related deaths can be traced back to modifiable habits.
The culprits identified include smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, and excessive sun exposure.
While these six factors are the primary concerns, other elements such as secondhand smoke, red meat consumption, HPV from unprotected sex, and insufficient calcium intake also contribute to cancer statistics, albeit to a lesser extent.
Smoking remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, a fact underscored by recent UK data showing a record high in cancers caused by smoking at an alarming rate of 160 new cases daily.
Cancer Research UK’s analysis highlights a worrying 17% increase in smoking-related cancer cases since 2003 in the UK, with liver, throat, and kidney cancers seeing the most significant surges, doubling in the past two decades, reports Birmingham Live.
Back in 2003, the UK saw 49,325 smoking-induced cancer cases, which climbed to 56,091 in 2013 and reached 57,555 in the previous year.
Dr Farhad Islami, the author of the study, advises that quitting smoking and embracing a healthier lifestyle are key measures to slash cancer risks. He asserts: “Interventions to help maintain healthy body weight and diet can also substantially reduce the number of cancer cases and deaths.”
Obesity alters the structure of cells in your body, leading to hormone disruption and inflammation which can result in cancer. Being overweight heightens the risk of colorectal, breast, uterine, oesophagal, kidney and pancreatic cancer.
The research revealed that out of the 262,120 cancer deaths in the USA in 2019, 169,810 were due to cigarette smoking, 43,520 were attributed to being overweight and alcohol was responsible for 24,410 deaths. The study also advocates for the use of the HPV vaccine which can prevent cervical, throat, mouth and anal cancer. HPV – contracted from unprotected sex – is more dangerous than red meat and processed meat.